Type-writer.



K. DOUGAN.

TYPE WRITER.

APPLICATION FILED DEc.27. 1913.

Llfififi fl, PatentedSept. 7, 1915.

3 SHEETSSHEET I.

W/T/VELSISTS I KENNEDY DOUGAN, 0F MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

TYPE-WRITER.

mamas.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 7, 1915.

Application filed December 27. 1913. Serial No. 809,000.

To all whom itmay concern:

Be it known that I, KENNEDY DOUGAN, a citizen of the United States, andresident of Minneapolis, in the county'of Hennepin and State ofMinnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in -Type:Writers, of which the following is a speclfication.

This invention relates to typewriters. The object of the invention is toprovide a small, light t'ypewriting apparatus, adapted to write upon asheet of paper laid flat upon a desk or table. r

A. portion of the apparatus is'to be set directly upon the paper to bewritten on;

the remainder of the apparatus, 71. e., the

H-II of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged horizontal section of twoassociated typebars, their guides, the connecting gear, and a spring.Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical section of one of said type-bars. Fig. 5is a horizontal'section of the frame of the device shown in Fig. 1,omitting the parts Within said frame. Fig.- 6 is a diagram showing thearrangement of type-bars. Fig. 7 represents a simultaneous impression ofall the typecarried .by one type-carrier. Fig. 8 is a top view of amachine which is adapted to guide the type-carriers in writing upon flatsheets of paper, Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional view on a line IX IXof Fig. 8. Fig. 9 is a detail view of an overthrowcheck. Fig. 10 is acentral vertical section of certain details, on a line X-X of Fig.

8. Fig. 11 is a plan diagram of the machine shown in Fig. 8, with aninking-pad in front. Fig. 12 is a top view of a modified typewriterwhich has no carriage. Fig. 13 a cross sectional view on a lineXIII-XIII of Fig. 12, showing an engaged type-block. Fig. 14 is an endelevation wvithout the type-block. Fig. 15 is a front elevation of theink-pad. Fig. 16 is a secfinger, while the tional detail view of oneline-spacing device,

.viewed in direction of arrow, Fig. 14, but

all the levers in operative position.

showing Fig. 17 is a vertical sectional view of atwoseries type-carrieradapted for this species of typewriter. 1

Referring in detail to the drawings: The

frame, or case, of a carrier comprises in- 'tegral ends 1 and top 2, andremovable sideplates 3. On the top portion 2 is attached a finger-clip,comprising, as shownhere, two U-shaped pieces 4 and 5, both of resilientsheet metal. The piece 4 has ears 6 which firmly engagethe sides of aninserted piece 5 receives the top of the finger. In the frameor case.12-3 are two rows or series of longitudinally slidable type-bars 7, eachof which bears upon its lower end a type 8. The number of typebars to, arow may vary from three to seven, according .to the sizes of typesemployed. Were all the type in said carrier impressed at once upon aflatsheet of paper, the im pressions would appear as shown in Fig.7, forexample. ,But the device, is so constructed that the type areselectively pro-Z jected from the case for successive use as will bedescribed hereinafter.

The type-bars 7 are guided in their movements by small ears 9, struck infrom the side plates .3, andby longitudinal bars '10, fastened to theend portions 1. Each typebar 7 is preferably U-shaped'in right sec tion,and its base portion is provided with.

an interior rack, or with, a row of perforations 11 by which it becomesa rack in function. Thus the bars 7 are rack-bars as well as type-bars.Each opposed pair of rack bars are geared together, preferably, with apinion 12. The series of pinions 12 are separately rotatable on a shaft13 whose ends are fixed inthe frame ends 1. Each pinion 12 is yieldablyheld in a normal position,

i. e. that in which the two associated rackbars are at the same height,or in line, as shown in Fig. 2, by a spring 14, dependin froma rod '16and connected to an eye 1% on the pinion hub, by a fine chain or cord18, which latter will obviate injury to the spring where the movement ofthe pinion is half a turn or more;

Desirably the type blocks 8 are either loosely connected to therespective bars 7,

or in a manner to permit of limited rocking motion in all directions.Fig. 4 shows a type block provided with a half-ballhead 19, which fitsrockably in a socket milled in 5 the end of the bar 7. A thin flattorsion spring ,20 has its lower end fixed in a kerf in the head 19 andits upper T-shaped end has cars 20 which rest on lugs 21 struck in fromflanges7 there being two pairs of said lugs, between which pairs thesaid spring portions 20 are loosely inserted. [Thus the spring 20supports the type-block 8 and also returns it to normal alinement afterany deviation therefrom. Each typebar is provided on its outer face witha stud 22, which is flush with theside plate 3 adjacent. To permitmovement of the studs 22 both up and down, the side plates 3 are madewith slots 23, the lower ends/of which are flared, thus providing eachof said plates,

with-a 'row of prongs 24, which normally extend nearly to the faces ofthe type, and terminate in a plane parallel to that of said faces. It isobvious that by depressing the 25 carrier-frame bodily, and at the sametime supporting any stud 22 as by a post orvertical pin, the pinionengaged with the bar 7 carrying said stud, will be turned and will drivedown the other bar 7 to which it is geared; the motion of the latterbeing double the downward motion of the frame. This type-carrier may beemployed in connection with any suitably devised machine having meansfor accurately registering a type- 85 block with a point on a sheet ofpaper, and means for engaging any of the studs 22 when p the carrier .ispositioned by the operator and depressed. In Figs. 8 and 9 is shown amachine that is adapted for using said typecarriers to write upon sheetsof paper laid flat upon a desk or table, there being no platen. Thismachine is very small and light, and may be constructed almost entirelyof sheet metal. The, base 26 of said machine is a rectangular sheetmetal plate,

having a breadth greater than that of commercial or legal size paper. Itis held in position upon .a sheet of paper 27 by short pins 28 which arepermanently secured to the base. 29 is at-longitudinal slot, throughwhich ,oneline at least of writing will be visible. 30 is a carriage,which travels longitudinally upon the base 26, and is supported by fouranti-friction rollers 31, three of which are shown in Fig. 9., The frontside of the carriage is held from rising by a con? tinuous angularflange 32 on the base. The

rear side of the carriage is held from risin by a similar flange 33. Thecarriage is hel from contact with the inner face of the front flange 32,by a downturned lip 33 on the rear flange 33. I

The carriage is provided "with a square opening 34, the size of onetype-block, and

registering with theslot 29 in the base 26.

Over and around said opening 34 is a low hopper shaped guide 36, whoseinclined inner walls 36 direct a type-block into said opening. At eachside of said guide is' a post 37, having the same thickness as one of 7cthe type-bar studs 22, and its upper end 37 at such a height that when astud 22 is placed'thereon and the carrier depressed, a type will rundown through the opening 34 and strike the paper 27 with the properlength of stroke. Each post 37 is provided on its upper end with anoutwardly and upwardly inclined lip 38.

- To print a given letter, the type-carrier is held with the rows oftype normal to the slot 29 in the base; the carrier-slot 23 oppositesuch letter is placed over the right or left hand post 37, according towhich row the given letter belongs; the carrier is depressed; a stud 22strikes the lip 38, which 86 guides the stud to the top of the post 37;the carrier continues downward, the proper type-bar 7 is run downthrough guide 36 and opening 34 and prints a character upon the paper.lVhen the carrier is raised, the 90 spring 14 that was tensioned by thesaid movements raises the type-bar just used and lowers its mate,thereby repositioning the type-bars in the carrier. There may be six ofsaid carriers, three for each hand. A sight opening 39 (Fig. 8) in thecarriage may be cut at the left of the type-hole 34-, so that the nextto the lastcharacter printed may be seen by the operator.

The carriage is automatically given a stepby-step movement during eachupward movement of a type-carrier. This is effected by means initiallyactuated by each downward movement of a type-carrier, orby a thumb orfinger pressing upon a spacer-key and striking-plate, or key-plate 40.Said key-plate 40 is so positioned that its portion 40 will be struck byone or more of the prongs 24, in the downward stroke of a typecarrier inany operative position, toward or from the operator, or right and left.Said key-plate is pivoted on pins 41, 42 which turn in bearings 43, onthe carriage. It is pressed upward by a torsion spring 44, on pin 42,and engaging a lug 46.

Integral with key-plate 40 is a rearwardly extending arm 47 whichcarries an arc gear 48, which meshes with a pinion 49, on a shaft 50journaled in bearings 51, 52. Pinion 49 carries a pawl-arm 53 on whichis a driving ,pawl 54 which is springressed upon a ratchet wheel 56 onsaid sha t. Secured to ratchet-wheel 56 is a worm 57. If the worm andratchet wheel are keyed on the shaft, the pinion will be loose, or the,pinion may be keyed, with the worm and ratchet wheel loose. An idle pawl58 provents the ratchet wheel from turning backward. The pawl 54 turnsthe ratchet wheel during the upward motion of the gear-arm 47, 1ea vingthe worm 57 motionless during the down stroke. As shown, the pinion 49will'be turned exactly half a revolution at cally oppositeaiil'ffotherf; The detent serves two purposes, as it gin-or onlylimits'the turn of the worrn'to theexactturnim pir fid by the :pawi, butfo m a St 1; toijthe; u ward" motion of the gear 48*,and "key-plate -40.

The worm'57 engages notches '61 in a longitudinal rack bar 62, whoseends are pro-' vided with pivots 63 which are heldfbyv standards .64 onthe baseplate 26. IA-lever "66 is mounted OIL'OIIGOf the pivots forturning the rack-bar 62 which is held. at

a normal angle'by leaf springs 67 (Fig. 91):

bearing thereon.

To move "the carriage to the, left ,.depres s th lever 66, therebyturning the raclg'bar, out of engagement with the Worm" '57, and v slidethe carriage by a finger placedagainst one of the posts 37. Thenregister the worm with a notch 60 and return the raclebar to normalposition. To space the carriagefon ward, depress the key 40 onceforfeach space. When printing, one or more prongs 24 of eachtype-carrier will depress the per: tion 40, of the key-plate 40, andwhen the.-

-carrier is lifted the spring will step the carriage for the nextcharacter, as described; I To space between lines, the machinelSIQlJOdily raised and moved forward by means of a device shown in Fig.16 and presently'.described.

Figs. 12,1 and 14. illustrate a fiat sheet typewriterinfwhich nocarriage 1s provided. As. a substitute therefor, a series of stationarytype-bar guides are arranged across the. frame or'base, there being asmany typespaces between said guide as there are characters in thelongest line of writin. The type-carriers are like that herelnbe orede-' scribed, but racemes. are omitted 'and type-bars are actuatedselectivelybybeing directly pressed'upon said type-bar guides;direction-.1 If all three levers of each set osition, when-..tho-.

orwarol the longest? The frame of the'typewriter 1s flat, .rectan' gularand horizontal. lt com ri es "end pieces 125' and two upturned anges 1271- along its longitudinal outer edge. Sa d frame is. provided with pads128, of soft. rubber or other good friction material; Thesepadsfrest'u'pon"thesheet of paper. 129, and prevent .the frames slippingthereon. Integral With-or secured iii' s'aid frame are a series ofupturned transverse ribs 180, hereinafter called uides}! These guidesare spaced apart the dlarne'ter of'one type-block,

and are. of such length as to receive'a guidelug 131on a type-carrier132 in any position of the carrien the carrier having such a lug Ward onthe line of slots 137 have no. function,

pairs of members guides, in

jusedare inser ed I In order, toleave-the writing visible, a omitted andthe type be]. inked upon a large pad as 139, which is shown in Fig. 14in 'front of the typewriter.

i'han-dles 144 are drawn levers 142 would engage'th'e paper first and134v nearest the'front is'made as low as posalready written by lookingobliquely downthe arrow, 15. The

weight of the frame. The outer flanges 127 serve to brace the transverseguides 130-.-

Rising'from the innerendof each transverse I guide 130 is a narrow inorpost, 138, h .i'ng vertical inner an outer edges, except that the upperportions of the inner edges are beveled as shown at The opposed 13.8i'orm .abutments and which the inates of the type to be,

ribbon. should Y be" The bottom of thecase of said pad is provided withnarrow runners 139 which slide upon the paperat the -margins thereof.

To. cause the lines to be printed in parallelism, anylsuitableconstruction may be resorted A 'very...simple device for the purpose ishere-shown, consisting of two ."sets'of pointed stepping levers 140,141, 142,

one set at each-side or end of the frame, and

havingfulcrums positioned somewhat forwardly of the. center of saidframe; Said fulcrums 1147 are held by the frame ends 125. .Each set oflevers is mounted on a main lever 143 having an operating handle 144.

Said pointed levers are of three lengths, and are adapted respectivelyto shift the frame a; single, space, a double or a triple space. Asshown, all three levers are pivoted on one pin 146. which is carried bythe main lever '143beloW its fulcrum, 147. On the main lever are threestops 148, which prevent the respective stepping levers from turning onthef'pivot 146 in one direction, but permit them to be turned in theother or rearward were. left in" operative,

themachine a triple space. Hencethe tive. ,Each lever140, 141, 142 isprovided with a leaf. spring149 which 'bypressing on the associated sto.148 holds its lever yieldably in extende positlon when said lever isfree of the paper. Fig. 16 shows very well the relative operativepositions of the levers 140, 141, 142 and their relative lengths. Whenthe handles 144 are drawn but reduce the" forward, the levers 140penetrate the paper and engage the wood beneath it, and as they turnbackward the main pivots 147 lift and carry the frame forward the properdistance, at each end thereof, so the lines of writing will be parallel.Thehandles 144 are then returned to the normal position, during whichmovement each pointed lever 140 turns backward on pivot 146, therebytensioning its spring 149, until free of the paper, when it isimmediately re-extended by said spring. When the handles 144 arereleased said levers will fall back upon the paper to the startingposition. The main le\ ers 143 require no stops, because no matter howfar they are turned, the machine will be shifted the right distanceonly.

It will be understood that in writing with .this apparatus the operatorinserts the type bearing the proper characters in the suc-- cessivepoints of the longitudinal slot between the guide-flanges 134. Thedetails of the operation have already been described.

Having described my invention, I claim, and desire to secure by LettersPatent:

-1. In a typewriter, a frame adapted to be set upon a fiat sheet ofpaper, means held by said frame for guiding type in successive 5positions to write a line, and a manually carried frame, provided with aplurality of' "type.

2. In a-typewriter, a frame adapted to be set upon a flat sheet ofpaper, means held by said frame for guiding type in successive positionsto write a line, a manually carried frame, provided with a plurality of'type, and means. for selectively printing with said type, said meanscomprising a member associated with the type-guide held by said frame. p

1 3. In a typewriter, a multicharacter printing device adapted tobefoarried by and upon a finger of the hand; a framefadapted to be setupon a flat sheet of paper; and means mounted on said frame forguidingand selectively operating the type when the said printing device isdepressed in certain relative positions to said guiding and selectiveoperating means.

4.;In a typewriter, a base adapted to be I set upon a fiat sheet ofpaper, said base having a slot therein parallel, to the lines ofwriting; a carriage movable on said base parallel to said slot, atype-guide and an abutment carriedby the carriage, a manually carriedframe, a series of separately movable type carried by said frame, and

'- projections on said type, adapted for engagement with said abutment.

5..'In a t pewriter,-a base adapted to be set'upon-a at'sheet of paper,said base hav- .-'ing-a slot therein' parallel to the lines of.writing;' a 'carriage movable on said base parallel to said slot, meansfor shifting the carriage'step by step, said means compriscarriage stepby step, said means comprising a downwardly movable plate positioned tobe actuated by depression of a type-carrier, a spring bearing said plateupwardly, a manually carried type-carrier provided with means foractuating said plate in its printing movement, and a series of movabletype-bars in said carrier.

7. In a typewriter, a carriage, a worm mounted upon the carriage, abase, a rackbar supported by the base and meshed with said worm, amovableplate mounted on the carriage, means'to turn said worm bymovement of said plate in one direction, a spring to move said plate inthe opposite direction,

a type-guide mounted on the carriage, a manually carried type-carrierprovided with means or actuating said plate, and typebars in saidcarrier.

8. In a typewriter, a carriage, a typeguide adapted to receive a singletype, a pair of posts arranged at opposite sides of said guide, upon thecarriage, a type-carrier comprising two series of type-bars eachrelatively movable therein, lateral studs on said type-bars, each studbeing adapted to engage one of said posts, means on the type-carrier toengage said posts for guiding the studs to meet said posts, and meanswhereby when "thetype-carrier is depressed with any type- 1 bar studupon one of said studs, a different type-bar will be thrust down throughsaid type-guide.

9. In a typewriter, a frame adapted to be set upon a flat sheet-ofpaper, said frame having an opening therein parallel to a line ofwriting; longitudinal type-guides along the sides of said opening, aseries of combined type-guides and abutments arranged along said openingand spaced apart to correspond with spacing of letters in a line, amanually carried type-carrier, comprising two series of type-barsmovably mounted therein, and type on said ty e-bars; said abutments andguides being a apted to up- :hold one type-bar only when thetype-carrier is depressed in proper relative position.

10. In a ty ewriter, a frame adapted to be set upon a atsheet of paper,said frame having an opening therein parallel to a line of writing;longitudinal type-guides along the sides vof said opening, a series ofcombinedtype-guides and abutments arranged along said opening and spacedapart to correspond with spacing of letters in a line, a

memee E manually carried type-carrier, comprising between saidtype-guides and through said!- two series of type-bars 'movably mountedopening.

therein, and type on said type-bars; and KENNEDY DUUGAN. means wherebywhen the type-carrier is de- Witnesses: 5 pressed with any one type uponan abut- S. SHUFELDT,

nient a different type will be thrust down K. IMBODEN.

